South India Trek and Tour

Arrival at the airport of Cochin , welcome by our local guide, who will accompany us throughout the trip. Road between small towns and lush countryside , to reach Thattekad. We go to the park’s welcome center and leave for a first 8km hike around the northern zone of the reserve (which is the only one open to tourism to date). Wild and rejuvenating, this walk allows you to observe a surprising amount of birds and perhaps elephants or a Sambar deer … A few kilometers to reach the hotel located in the heart of nature in a haven of peace.

• Transfer: 2h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: LD
• Walking hours: 2 / 3h

Possibility of a new ride or a boat trip (option to see with the hotel) in the early morning when the birds are in full activity. The road sinks at the end of the plains of Kerala lined with coconut palms, banana trees and spices of all kinds, then rises in laces along granite slopes. It reaches hilly landscapes opening onto the tea fields and gardens of cardamom or clove as far as the eye can see. Arrive in Munnar and check into the hotel for two nights. The beautiful valley of Munnar contains a series of winding dam lakes that embellish the decor of their very graphic curves.

• Transfer: 3h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

After breakfast, we take our vehicles for a short while through the old town of Munnar and descend to the small village of Nagarmudi . We leave on foot accompanied by our local guide and follow a path that sinks between the plantations of tea and pepper forming a sumptuous and bright decor. The climb begins without difficulty through the plantations to the summits called " Seven Malai ", the seven hills. This beautiful walk is rewarded with a superb view of the Chittirapuram Reservoir, Chnegulam Lake, Anamudi Peak and Munnar.below and surrounding villages. We stop en route to eat our picnic and enjoy the panorama, surrounded by lush vegetation. Then back down and back to our hotel at the end of the day.

• Transfer: 30mn
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Walking hours: 4 / 5h
• Altitude difference: +580 m
• Altitude difference: -400 m

We leave today for the village of Pothamedu, located 6 km from Munnar. Superb hike , flowery, wooded with rhododendrons in bloom and permanent views including Annamudi the highest peak of the South … A steep descent into a forest of Sholas (local term to name the areas of dense vegetation, that they are trees or herbs …) takes us to the hilly tea fields of Yellapati . Here the vehicle recovers us to go up the valley between tea trees and villages of agricultural workers. The stalls along the path offer tasting of fresh fruit , coconut, passion fruit … a nice stop at the end of the day, before returning to Munnar.

• Transfer: 30mn
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Walking hours: 4 / 5h
• Altitude difference: +490 m
• Altitude difference: -490 m

Departure for the park’s reception center, with its lush botanical garden , then we take the road to Suryanelli. We change vehicles to engage on a steep trail to the hamlet of Kulukumalai. Here we are in Tamil Nadu. Departure of the trek in the tea fields between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Quickly, the route sinks into a forest interspersed with tea trees . A trail replaces the trail to reach the ridges, straddling the two states , and offers spectacular views of the surrounding area. At the heart of winter a legendary flower, the Kurinji, which flowers every 12 years, sprinkles the mountains. The trail becomes very steep just before reaching the summit ofMesapulimalai, second highest peak of South India at 2537 m . 360 ° panoramic view! We turn back on 200 meters of elevations to reach Silent valley. The path crosses the woods and then finds a track that crosses very aesthetic tea plantations and returns to Munnar.

• Transfer: 2.5 hours
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Walking hours: 5h
• Altitude difference: +510 m
• Altitude difference: -750 m

It is a beautiful day of descent which promises to be: tea trees, spices and fruit trees are flourishing in a luxuriant way forming a real botanical park with many peppers, jackfruits (with its big delicious fruits), orange trees, lemon trees, grapefruits, trees with passion, heveas, kapoks … Reflecting a glorious colonial past, the stations of Top, Central and Bottom, bear the names of the stations of the old cable car built by the English which allowed to evacuate the harvest of tea. A steam locomotive was even assembled on site thanks to this lift. This rudimentary train crisscrossed the plantations to unload crops at Central Station. Only a few vestiges remain of this time. At the exit of Central Station, the winding path plunges towards the valley to reach a torrent that brings a pleasant freshness. After the meal at the edge of a basin, we continue our walk through this beautiful vegetation. Some groves of giant bamboos line the path, the latter becomes flatter to 850 m altitude. We reach Bottom Station and the villages of Kurangani and Kottagudi. The crops reach a level of variety rarely equaled: cotton, mango, cashew … Always along the creek, we reach the small temple Komputhukki. We cross the torrent and reach the road where the vehicles await us to take us south to the city of Thekaddy.

• Transfer: 3h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Walking hours: 4h
• Altitude difference: +60 m
• Altitude difference: -860 m

In the morning, we wander in Thekaddy, the village with spices, to discover the market and soak up the flavors of the South … A walk in the surrounding area to discover the subtropical atmosphere of the region and its extraordinary bio-diversity . In the afternoon, we reach the lake of Periyar for a discovery by boat of this exceptional natural park. At dusk, many animals, colorful birds of all kinds, fallow deer, gaurs (bison of India), elephants… come to drink on the shores of the lake. The discovery by boat is ideal (this park, very regulated, offers pedestrian excursions supervised by a guard, that we do not do any more because the strict management "in the Indian" is too much schooling …). Return to the hotel for the evening.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Walking hours: 2h
• Altitude difference: +200 m
• Altitude difference: -200 m

Early departure, to reach the pier of Alleypey for the mid-day, knowing that we have nearly 6 hours of road. Installation aboard or houseboats (residential boat mat roof reminiscent of Chinese sampans simply decorated and well local style), depending on group size. Departure for the aquatic labyrinth linking the villages and towns of the south coast. An interlacing of canals and lakes separated from the ocean by a strip of land, form the famous backwaters ! Afternoon of navigation between the fields of rice and mustard bordered by fruit trees. Evening and night aboard the house-boat with certainly a sumptuous sunset. It’s a day rich in discovery and conducive to photos …

• Transfer: 6h
• Accommodation: House Boat
• Meal: BLD

Day in the heart of the Backwaters, where we alternate navigation and visiting villages. We impregnate ourselves with this exceptional atmosphere in a luxuriant nature, arranged with grace. Sliding serenely between plantations of rubber , banana and coconut trees , we attend beautiful scenes of everyday life while tasting a delicious and well deserved relaxation … Multiple stops allow us to discover this fertile campaign and go to meet the villagers .

• Accommodation: House Boat
• Meal: BLD

Breakfast during the last hour of navigation. Road to Cochin, then the center of Fort Cochin where our hotel is located. Installation and visit of this authentic city; discovery of the synagogue or the Dutch temple with the magnificent murals depicting the epics of Mahabharata or Ramayana. Then the old Portuguese district , exotic and whose busy streets encourage you to stroll. The day ends traditionally with a stroll on the seashore to observe the fishermen with chinese plaice, repeating ancestral gestures. Some of them offer to taste their catch of the day freshly grilled. This is the highlight of this memorable day! Last dinner in common and evening in the sweetness of the hotel ideally located.

• Transfer: 2h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

According to the flight schedule, very early departure for Cochin airport and day flight to France (with stopover).

• Transfer: 1h